Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Right about now I wish I had the new amazing piece of technology that Iowa Girl Eats mentioned in her blog yesterday! I loath taking my memory card out of my camera and putting it into my computer whenever I need to download pictures (I know, how lazy of me!). Prior to reading her post I don't think I loathed this process, I think it just annoyed me, but now that I know there is such a thing that just automatically loads your pictures to your computer, I loathe the process. Lord, please let me win the lottery so I can buy one of these and lots of other neat toys!!! *fingers & toes crossed* Really, if you haven't checked out her post, do it now... the camera accessory appears to be life changing!

*******

Moving on, can anyone else not believe it is the last day of August already!?! The weather is definitely starting to show that too. I love the summer heat, but the fall/spring temps are much nicer to run in! This morning I hit the road for a quick 3 mile run and was planning on going to the gym to get my lift on, but my sister called to see if I wanted to go for coffee... I couldn't turn her down :) Not only is coffee hard for me to turn down, I don't get much time with just her without the kids around, so I had to take her up....not to mention I wasn't really feeling the lift today. But, not to worry I will have time to do it tomorrow!

Eats
I made a batch of "energy" bars yesterday, but wasn't totally please with them, so I'm not going to share the recipe...Once I get the perfect combination of ingredients put together I'll share :) Even though they aren't the greatest, I am still going to eat them because I don't like wasting things, so I had one pre-run this morning.

Last night I also made some sweet tea with pomegranate green tea, I haven't tried this flavor yet, but it's not too shabby! I had a glass of this with my lunch today, which was a sweet and sour chicken wrap... I think McD's sells snack wraps like these, but mine totally kicks its butt! (Not pictured, sorry)

Remember when I met up with my friend to go running and she gave me a sample of some protein powder she sells? Well, I loved it, and I got a tub myself! Here are the stats:

Serving size: 2 scoops (49.3 g)

Calories: 200

Total Fat: 6 g (1.5 g saturated)

Total Carbs: 18 g (10 g fiber)

Protein: 18 g

A variety of vitamins & minerals are present as well

Cost: $29.95... not too bad right?!

I whipped up a 1 scoop batch of protein pudding with peanut butter and ate it on a couple of graham crackers... totally curbed my sweet craving! I'm really planning on only using this as a post workout fuel, but every now and again I'm sure it'll show up as a dessert for me. Do you use protein powder? What is your favorite way to eat/drink it?

Yoga
The new YMCA group fitness schedule just came out yesterday for September and I am super excited because there are yoga and pilates classes (which I prefer) at times I am available! There are two days I have my eyes on... Monday at 10am (Yoga II) or noon (Mat Pilates) and Thursday at 9:40am (Fusion- Pilates & Yoga) or Noon (Yoga). This is my pledge to myself... I will go to at least one of these classes a week! If I don't make at least one, I am cheating myself, because I am totally available during all four of those times. Ready. Set. Stretch. :-D

Monday, August 29, 2011

So I have to confess, last Monday I wrote my post before I actually did my yoga and lifting... I never did my yoga :( I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I just skipped it. I love yoga and I think my problem is that I am so used to high impact workouts (ex. running, lifting, spin, etc) that it is really hard for me to slow down, relax and do yoga. Well again, today yoga is in my fitness plan... I woke up bright and cheery eyed this morning ready to do some yoga before breakfast! I opened up my computer and brought my Runners Yoga up on Youtube and assumed the position for a downward dog.

I only made it through 8 minutes of the 25 minute video because I got too darn frustrated with my internet! Every 30 seconds it would stop the video and say my internet connection was bad... grr! So I threw in the towel, since yoga is supposed to be relaxing and I was definitely not relaxed at the time. Maybe I will try again later or make a trip to the library to see if I can find a good yoga video... any yoga video suggestions? Anyway, here's this weeks plan!

Out of the blue last week I ran into a guy wearing a Harvest Hustle shirt (this is the event that my half marathon is part of), so I asked him if he knew anything about the new, upcoming Harvest Hustle Half Marathon. I asked the right guy, because he is part of the planning committee! After hearing what he had to say, I wished I had never asked him. I have been anticipating the course to be a little hilly, since it is out in the country, beginning at the apple orchard. However, I did not expect to hear that they kind of considered this to be more of an elite course! Yikes! Looks like I need to get out to the course a few times before I actually sign myself up. Check out the course profile...

This weekend was just what I needed! I have been on a 14 day working spree, with no break until next Saturday! My days were getting so monotonous... workout-work-eat-sleep-repeat. I needed a change... getting out with some friends was just what I needed!

Walk & Coffee date

Night out

Date night with my man

I'm refreshed and ready for the next 5 days of work! Bring it Monday :)

Friday, August 26, 2011

Name that song... come on any country lovers out there?! I'm country to the core...country music that is, I would never claim to be a country girl. I don't like dirt or dirty things or smelly things, but not to worry I'm not a prissy city girl either... right in the middle :) Okay, total tangent!

The past few days I literally have work, work, worked all day long, so tonight I am EXHAUSTED! BUT, since I have been working 8-12 hours a day for the past month (minus 1-2 days off a week) and have had absolutely NO social life, I decided I'm not going to blow off our work social! I'll be out the door in just a few minutes to go join my Momentum co-workers, who are the funniest group of people ever, at the Green Mill. The company is going to fit the bill for the appetizer tonight since they are half off! As a matter of fact, they are going to treat us and any of our clients to half price apps the last Friday of every month! That is what I love about this place... it is much more than a workplace, both clients and staff alike really work to get to know each other and a lot of us have become friends since meeting at Momentum.

Fitness
Today I did the same interval/ab workout that I did last week... we'll see if my abs burn again for 2 days!

Tomorrow I am supposed to do my long run, 8 miles, but I work 5:45 am - noon and one my girl friends is in town tomorrow so I may end up switching it to Sunday. I'm not a very good afternoon/night runner, so if I don't do it in the morning sometime it's going to be tough for me to do it.

What are everyone's weekend plans? Alright I'm out to have my some half price apps and a brewski! Hope you all have a wonderful night!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

For those of you who remember, back in June I finished my first complete text book, cover-to-cover, 359 pages! Well yesterday I finished my second complete text book...All 588 pages of it! This book is my study guide for my CSCS test, so I had good reason to finish it up. Have you ever finished any text books or any rather large book?

Yesterday's Snack- My girl friend that I went running with sells supplement/nutrition products so she gave me a couple samples of chocolate and vanilla flavored protein. These are both great with 200 calories for a full serving, 18 g protein and 10 g fiber.

With my chocolate sample I made some Reese's chocolate pudding! So simple! Mix just a little water with the protein so it is thick and add a dollop of PB in there... mix and enjoy! It literally tasted like Reese's! I'm sold!

Yesterday's Dinner- Roasted potatoes and zucchini

Today's Breakfast- Oatmeal with a quarter of a serving of vanilla protein powder and a dab of homemade strawberry jam. I definitely liked the chocolate flavor better, so I think I'll be purchasing some of that from her. I'll show you all the brand and other stats when I get it!

Fitness

Yesterday I was able to recruit one of my friend to do my track workout with me! Wow did that ever make a difference! The laps were so much more enjoyable and painless having someone trotting alongside me! I was a little faster than planned, but here are the splits...

1:41

1:42

1:48

1:46

1:46

1:50

1:51

I didn't really plan to taper off, but was more so trying to get to the speed I should have been going at, my 5K pace, which if I calculated correctly should've been around 2:00 per lap. In the end I'm glad we weren't going that pace because that would have been really slow and not very challenging for us I think.

Today I'll be hitting the road for a nice 3 mile run, then off to the gym for a full body lift! Tomorrow's my day off, so I plan to give it everything in the gym today.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

In case you haven't noticed my blogging has decreased from daily to about 3-4 times a week since the beginning of the summer. For those of you who have been following me regularly you know that the first half of my summer (summer school, living in La Crosse on my own) is greatly different from the second half of my summer (working an internship and a part time job, living in Eau Claire with my boyfriend). Now that I live in Eau Claire I am so much more busy than I ever was in La Crosse, which leaves me with less time to blog. So for all my amazing readers out there, plan on seeing only 3-4 posts a week :)

Sunday

Today is another one of these days...

My studying will soon be coming to an end. I officially scheduled my CSCS exam for Sept. 2! I'm really excited, but I'm also really nervous because one of my friends just failed one of the portions of the exam. :-/ But I am trying to push that out of my mind as much as I can, and focus on me, my test and my preparation. If anyone has study tips for this exam PLEASE let me know!

Also on the slate for today is a 4 mile run! I'll be getting out real soon to get my run on!

Question for you all: I have been trying to recruit friends to run with me on long runs, even if they just run for a couple miles with me, but no dice. Any suggestions of different approaches or websites I can find local runners at? I am working on starting a running club at the Y, but that may be a little while before it gets off the ground.

Saturday

My weekend as a whole has been pretty relaxing, which was just what I needed after working 12 days in a row for 8 hours a day... ahhh relaxation! Saturday my man and I went to Menomonie to check out the Grid Iron Classic that one of our friends was playing in (he's one of the coaches). Unfortunately they lost, but luckily it was a gorgeous day and the concession stand sold licorice ropes so it was all good! Side note: normally I'm a popcorn girl at games, but I was totally feeling the licorice rope instead :)

Later that night we met up with our friend and headed out for a night on the town! My work schedule has me working early mornings and until 8pm on most nights, so I don't really go out very much. Plus my stomach doesn't handle drinks all that well... I can't determine if it's the alcohol or just the mixer (ie: pineapple juice, tonic, etc.) because I don't drink much outside of milk, water and sport drinks on a regular basis. That is kind of besides the point...

Most exciting thing of the night is we found out one of the bars in Eau Claire sells bottles of Boones Farm, classy I know, so naturally I got one... I did a pathetic job on it and ended up leaving a pretty full bottle on the counter on the way out of the place... oh well, only $3!

After working out I headed my man's football game. He is the running backs coach for one of our local high schools here.

The boys did a great job and pulled out a win! They play La Crosse Central every year and this is the first year they have beaten them! Go Huskies!

Post game I went to dinner with my boyfriend's mom where I got a portabella mushroom sandwich, best decision on my life! I will be trying to make portabella mushrooms with her someday. I'll be sure to report how it goes!

Grandma and Grandpa were in town so I met up with them and at the truck show that was in town... I know, only in Wisconsin lol! The truck show had all sorts of fire trucks, semis, dump trucks, etc.

Go Pack Go!

This semi had a big screen TV built into the side of it!
Smoky & the Bandits was the feature movie !

The most impressive truck there was definitely the truck designed in memory of 9-11. This truck was decked out with symbolism! One side of the truck had a picture of the twin towers and pentagon, along with an airplane with the numbers 175, 11, and 77 for the flight numbers that hit buildings, and a list of some police, investigators, etc. who lost their lives helping during the tragedy.

The hitch (or whatever it is called) looked like an American flag draped over a casket. You can also see in the picture below that there was a picture of hedge stones lined up, all of them had names on them.

One of the most breathtaking pieces of the truck was the front of the trailer, where all of the fire fighters, fire marshals, and other rescue men/women who lost their lives were listed. I never realized the amount of rescuers who lost theirs in the process of saving others. I'm not sure what the final number was, but seeing actual names, including some people from the same family, was incredibly impressive. It really made me think about my life and how truly lucky I am.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

I did the best thing I could have ever done yesterday... I made chocolate granola! Since then it has been the star of my breakfast and snacks the past two days.

Plain yogurt, granola, peaches

The morning will look a little something like this... Coffee and studying for the CSCS.

Mixed in with a little of these guys...

Auntie Mac gets to spend a couple of hours with them today while mom is in a meeting... lucky me :)

Fitness Plan

I just realized that I did not post my fitness plan yesterday, oh no! Here it is... week one of half marathon training!

Monday: Stretch & strength training

Tuesday: 35 minutes tempo

Wednesday: 3 miles + strength training

Thursday: Rest

Friday: 3 miles

Saturday: 7 miles

Sunday: 4 miles

Total Miles: 17 + 35 mins (probably about 21 miles total)

I think the hardest thing for me will be taking my day off during the week rather than the weekend. I know Hal says it's okay to switch things up based on your schedule, but I'm going to try this out for a little first and if having my rest day in the middle of the week just doesn't work for me, I'll move it to the weekend. I'm hoping by having my schedule this way though, it will keep me on track during the weekends so I don't have to make up for so much lost ground come Monday. Anyone else have that problem?

Yesterday I did a 20 minute yoga session here at home, using a yoga youtube video. It.Felt.Awesome! It's been such a long time since I've done yoga, and I forgot how awesome it makes you feel... I will definitely be keeping this in on my stretch and strengthen days. Later I hit Momentum up for a lift, which took about 50 minutes.

My Quest

While chatting it up with a client at the gym one day, we got to talking about planks. The conversation eventually turned to, "I wonder what the world record is for plank holding?". So me being the curious creature I am checked it out. The answer... 33:40!!!

Now, I don't plan on breaking any records, but I'd like to work my way up to maybe 6 minutes or so... or just see what I can get my longest plank hold to be. Yesterday at the end of my lift I held for 2 minutes... that felt like forever, I can't imagine 33:40! I figure even if I don't get to 6 minutes, what will trying hurt... I'll get stronger abs, shoulders, and lower back muscles... a stronger body in general! Sounds like a win-win situation to me! What is the longest you have ever held an abdominal plank for?

Sunday, August 14, 2011

I worked Friday 4:45-7:30am and 12-5pm, Saturday 5:45am-12, and Sunday 10:45am-4pm. Granted this was only about 14 hours at the Y and 5 hours at my internship, the early mornings made me so tired for the rest of Friday and Saturday, so I didn't do a whole lot outside of taking a nap and watching TV. Even though I was wiped out I did manage to get my booty out for a 4 mile run Friday and a 2.5 mile run today. According to my fitness plan I was supposed to run 8 miles, however, the official (unofficial ) start of my half marathon training is starting at a different point. I was planning on doing a half marathon in La Crosse in September, but I decided to buck up and take on a challenge and do the one in Eau Claire, where I'm living... even if it is going to be a hilly one. This will give me more prep time plus I won't have to worry about finding sleeping arrangements for the weekend and it won't dominate my entire weekend since it is an in town one. The race is called the Harvest Hustle, although it is part of a preexisting race, this is a new distance added to the event! This makes me a little apprehensive, but like I said, I decided to buck up and take on the challenge. The race goes through the countryside of Eau Claire, and from what I understand it ends at the apple orchard where there will be some activities. Fun, no? If there's anyone in the area reading this, let me know if you're running this event. I will post my training plan soon, it is a Hal Higdon specialty :)

On another note... I bought myself three new pairs of workout shorts! Wahoo! I have been wanting to buy more running shorts for the longest time, because I hate running in my big, long, baggy basketball shorts. As a former basketball player my workout wardrobe is 90% basketball shorts. I just feel so slow and constricted in them, so I am happy to have my nice short running shorts! The best part about it... I got them for $30! Target had a great sale that I found out about yesterday, reversible or mesh running shorts for $9.99 a piece! By the time I got there yesterday they were pretty picked through, but I still found a few pairs I liked.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

I guess it's true what my professor and all the strength and conditioning literature I have read say when they tell you that you should not just give someone a workout from a well-trained athlete. I found out first hand that this just doesn't work. Now don't get me wrong, I know that you can't just hand any who-ha off the street a workout that someone well-trained does, however, that doesn't mean that I still don't like to try to see if I can't do it! Take a look...

Granted my actual workout was a total fail from what I wanted to do and what was on my fitness plan (I did 2 miles, planned to do 3... 1 mile short won't kill me), this was still a killer workout. I was spent after this 25 minutes on the treadmill. Now since I couldn't do it this time around, it is my goal to finish "my modified version" of the workout. You'll be seeing this one again in the future! Try it out and let me know how far you can go!

EOS lip balm! This product is 95% organic and 100% natural. It is also...

Long lasting

Shea butter & vitamin E

Smooths on clear

Gluten-free

Paraben-free

Petroleum-free

Phthalate-free

All you have to do to use this stuff is twist off the top and smooth it on! The only downside I see to this is that it's not something you can easily put in your pocket, due to it's round shape.

2. Just bought myself a new watch! It was a cheapo, but those are the ones that seem to last me the longest.

My last watch was getting really nasty, because I used to always wear it 24/7, including to workout. I never washed it after working out, so it started to change colors... pink changed to a dirty pink/brown color, not attractive. So far I'm in love with my new watch! It has everything my other watch had plus it has a light!

3. Have you ever had rhubarb crisp? I have many times, but never have I thought to marry rhubarb crisp to oatmeal!

My mom made rhubarb crisp on Sunday for the reunion and lucky me, I got to bring the left overs home! After my man and I polished off the last couple pieces I decided to save the left over slop in the bottom of the pan for my breakfast. Marrying oatmeal and rhubarb crisp is the greatest things I have ever done! Please, please, please try this combination... I'm begging you!

Workout

Yesterday I followed my fitness plan and ran 4 miles and lifted. I ran the 4 miles faster than I think I ever have! Four miles in 35:28! I am normally a 9:15 to 9:30 a mile pace person, so this felt awesome.

I wasn't really feeling any legs for my lift today so I blasted my arms. Here's what the workout looked like (each group was done as a super set)...

Push-Pull-Press 3x6 each

Ab triples (sit ups, twists, pikes) 3x10 each

EZ curls 3x6

Hammer curls 3x12

Reverse curls 3x20

Shoulder press 3x6

Skull crushers 3x12

Tube triceps kickback 3x20

This workout will make it so you can't even lift your arms up to the steering wheel to drive home from the gym... don't say I didn't warn you!

What is you workout today? P.S. If there is ever a particular exercise that I post that you don't know what it is, feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email and I will either describe it to you or try to send a video/picture of it.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Yesterday was the Hunter family reunion! My dad's side of the family doesn't get together too often, but when we do it is really nice to catch up. The great thing about the Hunter side get togethers is that they aren't quite as crazy and chaotic as my mom's side, simply from the difference in numbers. Let's do a little comparison....

Although it may not seem like a huge difference, it is because my mom's side has so many little ones running around. Plus, dad's side is much more spread out around the state/US, so not everyone can always make it, whereas most of mom's side lives in town. We had about 15 people show up for the reunion yesterday, so it was a nice quiet gathering... but that doesn't mean we didn't have fun :)

I did a terrible job at taking pictures yesterday, so this is pretty much the extent of my pictures... luckily my mom and sister took plenty :)

Fitness Plan

Monday: 4 mile run + lift

Tuesday: 3 mile run + cardio

Wednesday: 4 mile run + lift

Thursday: Cross training + lift

Friday: 8 mile run

Saturday: 3 mile run

Today is the official (unofficial) start date of my half marathon training. I say "official (unofficial)", because I am planning on doing a half on Sept. 24, but am not signed up for it yet. I am trying to recruit a couple people who said they are interested in doing it before I sign up. I would run it by myself, but it's always way more fun to have someone else doing it with you. Anyone have any races coming up? What's your plan for the week?

Thursday, August 4, 2011

The weekly fitness plan is getting a makeover this week. I used my free massage today and my massage therapist recommended that I didn't do any heavy physical activity before hand. Thursdays are normally the day I lift in the morning and then play basketball at night, so I decided to move the lift to another day. So the new plan is as follows...

Yesterday was like a dream day for me. It reminded me a lot of summer days when I was younger. I started the day off with a nice 3 mile run to my parents house to pick up my bike that has been stored for the past month at their house... How I have missed the Pink Panther (that's my bikes name). I'll show you a picture someday and you will totally understand the name :)

Anyway so I ran to get my bike and then biked it back to my apartment. By the time I got back to my apartment it was about 10 and I was supposed to work at 11. I really wanted to go to the library quick, but I figured I should shower and get ready for work instead. BUT, before I was able to jump in the shower my boss called me and told me to take the day off since it was slow at work. It was perfect because I was supposed to work a double shift already today, plus I needed to run another couple miles to meet my fitness plan goal for the week. After hearing I didn't have to come in, I threw my running shoes on again and biked to the library. I debated if I wanted to go in the library first and then run or vice versa, but I decided to run first. So I ran my last couple miles on (this is the best part) new trails! The new path I found was kind of a continuation of the one I usually run on, but I have never noticed it! I was so excited to have found new trails to explore!

No books for me in this trip, just movies! Astronaut Farmer, Bend It Like Beckham, The Brave One (really good!) and Pilates System 7 (not a fan, I need the more advanced disc). I was getting kind of bored of all the movies we have here and we don't have cable yet (coming tomorrow), so I figured I would get some free movies to watch.

Eats
Since it was my day off today I made myself a nice little breakfast of dippy eggs and toast. Nothing better than dippy eggs to make your day feel special!

Lunch I made some special veggie spaghetti. It's been a while since I've made this but it was due time. All you need is this...

Some sort of squash

And this...

All you have to do is peel the squash and slice into thin strips, like so...

Put the strips into a pan with a little water and turn on medium heat. Steam the squash for about 15 minutes or until it is tender and yellowish/see-throughish.

Once the squash is tender add the spaghetti sauce and keep in the pan until it is warm. Feel free to add any other veggies or top with cheese. Enjoy!

This is one of my favorite, healthy dishes. You can eat tons of it and intake a very low amount of calories. Good thing I have lots left over, I can have it for dinner before my games tonight!

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About Me

Hi! My name is Mackenzie, I am 25 years old. I am currently working towards my Masters degree in Human Performance! I love making new recipes, being outdoors and am just recently getting into running races!

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Disclaimer

Please remember that I am not a nutritionist or health specialist. I graduated with a Bachelors in Sport Management and will soon have a Masters in Human Performance, but am by no means a expert. Please consult a doctor before trying any of my tips or workouts. The items on my blog are things that work for me and things that I enjoy. Hope you can enjoy some of them too! If you have any questions, comments or concerns feel free to e-mail at myfoodevents@gmail.com. Thanks and come again!